CAREER: Has appeared in 35 games with 27 starts at linebacker...Collected 239 total tackles (142 solo) in his first three seasons...Registered 25 tackles for loss, including 3.5 QB sacks...Has forced one fumble, recovered three fumbles and has four interceptions returned for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

 

HONORS/AWARDS

2008

·          Bronko Nagurski Trophy Finalist

·          Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist     

·          Lombardi Award Semifinalist   

·          Lott Trophy Quarterfinalist      

·          Butkus Award Watch List

·          SEC Defensive Player of the Week (10/13 – LSU)

·          2008 Team Captain

·          2008 UF Football Leadership Committee

·          Preseason First Team All-SEC (Football Time in Tennessee)

·          Preseason All-SEC Team (Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook)

·          Preseason Second Team All-American (Phil Steele)

·          Preseason First Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)

·          Preseason Second Team All-American (Athlon)

·          Preseason First Team All-SEC (Athlon)

·          Preseason First Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches)

·          Preseason First Team All-SEC (Media)

 

2007

·          A first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches and the AP

·          A second-team All-SEC honoree by Rivals.com

·          2007 UF Football Leadership Committee

 

2008: Named a consensus first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC performer...Named a team captain for the 2008 season and was a member of the 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee...Selected as a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award...One of only five linebackers in the nation with two interception returns for touchdowns last season...Two interceptions returned for a touchdown in a season tied the school record...Had four interceptions against top-25 teams, which tied for second among all players nationally and was the most by any linebacker in the country; since 1996 the only other linebackers that have had four interceptions in a season against top-25 teams were Tulsa’s Michael LeDet (2004) and Michigan State’s T.J. Turner (1999)...His two interceptions against LSU made him one of only 12 linebackers in the country to have two interceptions in a game this year...Starter at middle linebacker led the team with 93 tackles on the season, including 8.0 for a loss of 29 yards...Finished with six tackles in the BCS National Championship Game win over Oklahoma...Recorded seven tackles, two QB hurries and broke up one pass in the SEC Championship game against Alabama...Collected his fourth interception of the season on the first play of the second half against Florida State and returned it 26 yards, while also leading the team with six tackles...Intercepted a pass in the first quarter against South Carolina and returned it 12 yards for his second touchdown of the year...Led the Gators with seven tackles against Vanderbilt, including two for a loss of eight yards...Named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against LSU, where he had his first career interception in the first quarter...On the first play of the fourth quarter, he added his second interception, which he returned 52-yards for the first touchdown of his career, at any level...Had a streak of 11 consecutive games with a tackle for loss end against LSU...Against Ole Miss, had eight tackles in the first half for the second game in a row on his way to a season-high 13 tackles...Led the team with 10 tackles in the win over Tennessee, including one tackle for loss...Made his season debut against Miami and recorded a game-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of three yards...Missed the first game of the season due to a foot injury...A consensus preseason first-team All-SEC pick.

 

2007: Started in all 13 games at middle linebacker, leading the team in tackles 10 times...Was a First-Team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches and the AP...Garnered Second-Team All-SEC Honors by Rivals.com...Led the team with 131 total tackles (81 solo)...Placed second in the SEC in total tackles...Ranked second on the team and sixth in the SEC in tackles for loss with 16 tackles for a loss of 36 yards…Also led the team and tied for third in the SEC in fumble recoveries with three on the season, including two in the victory over South Carolina and one versus Michigan...Had a career-high 14 tackles (nine solo) versus Vanderbilt...Tallied seven or more total tackles in all 13 games on the season...Never collected less than three solo tackles in a game all season...Had at least one tackle for a loss in seven consecutive games to end the season...Registered his first career sack in the win over Troy and added a half a sack against Auburn...Had seven pass deflections on the season...Member of the Leadership Committee.

 

2006: Played in nine games, including one start...Took the field at linebacker during the Gators’ win over Ohio State in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game...Saw action at linebacker in the SEC Championship Game against Arkansas...Made a career-high six tackles and broke up a pass in his first career start against Western Carolina...Saw significant time at linebacker in the win over South Carolina, finishing with three tackles and Florida’s lone tackle for loss...Assisted on a tackle in the win over Alabama...Had two solo tackles against Kentucky, while also breaking up his first career pass...Made a solo tackle versus UCF...Entered the Southern Miss game on the second series and made a solo tackle on his first collegiate play; finished with two tackles.

 

PREP: Four-year starter at linebacker and defensive end for Crest Senior High School...Listed as the No. 1 prospect in North Carolina in 2006 by Rivals.com...Considered the No. 13 linebacker prospect by Rivals.com...Rated as the No. 6 overall prospect in the country according to Scout.com...Selected to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Game...Was a team captain and totaled 74 tackles, four sacks and four interceptions as a senior...Moved to linebacker during his sophomore season and stayed there ever since...Lost 30 pounds from his playing weight as junior...Helped lead Crest High School to the North Carolina state semifinal round as a senior...Posted 98 tackles, including three sacks, seven interceptions and forced five fumbles from his linebacker position...Chose Florida over Alabama, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech.

 

PERSONAL: Was born on Sept. 3, 1987.

 

MAJOR: Anthropology.

 

CAREER DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

Year       UT-AT        TT        TBL      QBS     FF     FR     PD    INT

2006       9-6             15        1.0       0          0       0       2       0

2007       81-50         131      16.0     1.5       1       3       7       0

2008       52-41         93        8.0       2          0       0       2       4

Totals:    142-97     239     25        3.5       1       3       11     4

 

SPIKES’ CAREER HIGHS

Tackles: 14 (Vanderbilt, 2007)

QB Sacks: 1 (2x, last vs. Ole Miss, 2008)

Forced Fumbles: 1 (at South Carolina, 2007)

Fumble Recoveries: 2 (at South Carolina, 2007)

Interceptions: 2 (LSU, 2008)